The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-02
rorEAND TOTAL ABSTINENCE ZEN

HrsF "a TF ~ --E .EE-N Is -
Letter from Ise,neto bishop Ireland Favor.
s Ing tho Movements.
The following is a TRANSLATION OF the i'm.
portant papal brief in favor Of the total
abstinence movement, addressed to the
RI. Rov. Dr.. Ireland, Bishop Of St.. Paul,
MINI: Z.
TO our Venerable Brother, John ireland,
Bishop Of 81. Paul, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Brother: Health and apostolic benedic.
ton. The admirable words. OF piety and
charity by which our faithful children In
the United States labor to promote not
only their own temporal and eternal vel.
fare, but also that Of their fellow.citizens,
and which you have recently related to
US, give 10 uB exceeding great consolation.
And above alive have rejo!ced to learn
with what energy and zeal, by means Of
various excellent associations, and es-
pecially through the Catholic Total
Abstinence Union, you combat tho de-
Btructive vice Of intemperance. For It ia
well known to uB how ruinous, how de-
plorabte Ia the injury both to faith and 10
morals that Ia 10 be feared from intemper-
ance in drink. Nor can We sufficiently
praise the prelates OF the United States,
who recently In the Plenary Council OF
Baltimore with weightest words condemn
cd this abuse, declaring it to be a perpotu.
al incentive TO sin and q fruitful root Of all
evils, bringing the families Of the intem-
perste into the direst ruin, and drawing
numberless soula down to everlasting per-
dition, declaring, moreover, that the faith
! ful who yield to this vice Of intemperance
become thereby a scandal to non.C Catholics
and a great .hindrance To the propagation
Of the true religion.
Hence we esteem worthy OF all COM
incubation tho noble resolve OF your pious
associations, by which they pledge them
selves to abstain totally from every kind
OF intoxicating drink. Nor can 1t at all DO
doubted that this determination IL the
proper and the truly eaicaeioua remedy
for this very great evil; and that 80 much
the moro strongly will all be- induced TO
put this bride upon appetite by how
much the greater are the dignity and in.
iluenceo O those who give the example. But
greatest OF all in this matter should be
the zeal OF priests, who, as they
are called 10 instruct the people in the
word Of life, and to mold them to Chris.
tian morality, should also, and above all,
walk before thcm in the practice Of virtue.
Let pastors, therefore, do their best to
drive the plague Of intemperance from the
fold Of Christ by assiduous preaching and
e%xhortation, and to shine before all as
models OF sbstinencc, that 80 many calam.
tiles with which this vice threatens both
Church and State msy, by their strenuous
%endesvors, be avssted. ~
And we most earnestly beseech AL.
mighty God that, in this important matter,
be may gracionsly favor your desires, di.
rect your counsels, and assist your en-.
beavers; and ns q pledge Of the divine
protection, and IS a testimony of our pa.
ternal affection We most lovingly bestow
upon you, venerable brother, and upon
all our associates in the holy league, the
apostolic benediction.
Given a. Rome, from St. Peters, this
eth day OF March, in the year 1887 the
tenth Of our pontidcate. ~
4 LEO NH, Pope.